Few positions of power and fewer jobs, on gender equality Italy still has a long way to go

Brussels – Women and gender equality, there is still much to be done in Italy. Some progress has been made, but little, at a slow pace, and the country is still not women-friendly. L’indice of gender equality published by the European Institute for Equality leaves no room for doubt: Italy is far from being a model country. The scale for the fight against the gender gap is measured with a score from 0 to 100. For Italy, the figure stands at 69.2, below the EU average of 71, putting the country in 14th place out of 27 for level of equality. 

The low participation of women in politics weighs heavily. The report notes that, despite a woman at the head of the government, Giorgia Meloni, “the percentage of women among senior and junior ministers has slightly decreased from 31 per cent in 2023 to 30 per cent in 2024.” On a more general level, the document’s Italian chapter continues, women hold 34 per cent of parliamentary seats in 2024 (up 1 per cent from 2023, and “remain under-represented at the regional level (24 per cent).”

Then, there is an issue that borders on discrimination in the labour market. Italy is criticised that “Women continue to be the least likely to be employed full-time.“ It means that the “good” contract is the preserve of men. In 2022, the full-time equivalent employment rate for women was only 32 per cent compared to 52 per cent for men. “This remains the lowest percentage of women employed full-time in the EU,” and Italy “has not shown significant progress in this area.”

In addition, “Italian women continue to experience the shortest expected working life in the EU,” with 25 years of service, whether public or private, standing nine years below the EU average (34 years). This a figure that confirms once again the all-Italian “gender gap” when it comes to gender equality and employment, only assumed and all to be built. 

For Italy, all this translates into the need for serious reforms and policies of full equality. “We must not let gender gaps persist.” stressed the Commissioner for Equality and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib. Italy and those with even worse indices are warned, “The data from the Gender Equality Index will contribute to my work to prepare our Roadmap for Women’s Rights and the Post-2025 Gender Equality Strategy.”